Landing a B-29 Superfortress "On the Numbers"

The CAF's "Fifi" making approach and landing into Long Beach, CA's Runway 30. November 12, 2010
History below as reported by CAF volunteers...
History of B29-A AAFSer. No. 44-62070
Manufactured by Boeing Airplane Company, Renton, Washington. Delivered to USAAF
On 31 July 1945
Assignments:
August 1945: 247th Base Unit
Smokey Hill Field, Kansas
September, 1945: 232nd Base Unit
Dalhart Field, Texas
October, 1945: 242nd Base Unit, Continental Air Force, (changed May 1946 to Strategic Air Command)
Grand Island Field, Nebraska
April 1946: Modified to TB29-A
November, 1947: Designated excess and sent to 4141st Base Unit (AMC)
Pyote Air Force Base, Texas
October, 1951: Sent for contract maintenance and modification. Reconfigured to B-29a in April, 1952
September, 1952: 310th Bombardment Wing (SAC)
Smokey Hill Air Force Base, Kansas
August, 1953: 3510th Flying Training Wing (TAC)
Randolph Air Force Base, Texas
November, 1953: Modified to TB29A
October, 1956: Designated excess and transferred To U. S. Navy at China Lake Naval Weapons Center
China Lake, California
1972: Confederate Air Force Aquires 44-62070. Airplane, which is by now a full-fledged derelict,
is given civil registration number N 529 B, made ferriable by a team of CAF volunteers. Navy
will not allow test flight ("Too dangerous for their secret stuff").
Airplane takes off, flown by Rand Sohn as PIC with "Lefty" Gardner in the left seat.
After an eight hour non-stop flight, the airplane arrives At "Rebel Field", Harlingen, Texas

[@glowbugVT]

Those engines sound like concentrated violence...

[@JavierW-uy8vi]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[@chriskohanek]

Fueled by freedom and lubricated by the tears of Nazis.

[@chopperhead2012]

@@chriskohanek and the souls of imperial Japanese soldiers who tortured prisoners of war.

[@Vexsus22]

WHAT ? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?

[@MongiNTS3YT]

Sounds more like a flying rave party

[@larrybaker5316]

I was born and raised only a few blocks away from the Long Beach airport and Douglas aircraft plant, they kept a few B-29's parked there, a buddy of mine would sneak out at night and climb up into the B-29's. He went on to be a chopper pilot in Nam and retired as a Captain from United Airlines several years back. We graduated from Lakewood high in 1967, and both went to Nam 1970....... BEAUTIFUL aircraft, thanks for sharing, GREAT office" view from this classic!

[@snakedike]

I love that there are people out there putting out their time and treasure to keep these pieces of history alive.

[@Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8]

One of the best Cockpit views ever created imo.

[@kenhanson4015]

Doc arrived today 4-13-23 at the Texas Air and Space Museum in Amarillo Texas. This video made me feel as if I was on the plane when it landed. What a great view, thanks for the post. This B29 will be here until the 17th when she departs for destination unknown to me at this time. Fifi was at our museum in 2014 when she was the only one flying. What a great job they did restoring Doc. I am so glad the people involved spend the time and money to keep these great warbirds flying. I will see many takeoffs and landings in the next few days, but I won't be on board. My pay as a museum volunteer is 0.0 dollars, can't afford a ride, but I will enjoy Doc from the ground.

[@jasone8831]

Hang around and meet the right people. When it fly's with empty seats they may throw you in. Good luck.

[@jameswilliams-pn1ee]

I got to sit in the cockpit of FiFi with two former B-29 pilots from world war 2 who both flew over 50 missions in the pacific against japan, and with my friends father who was a waist gunner in a B-29 during Korea.....to see their faces light up as they all conversed about their service in the super fortress was quite an experience for me. An emotional moment for many of us as we quietly listened to them. .This was almost 20 years ago now and I am sure all of them have passed. It was a privilege !

[@lemo_manda6076]

james williams The time is flying by ... Like our lovely B29

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@lemo_manda6076 Its Rapidly Becoming A Long Time Ago.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

@@stevenwiederholt7000 indeed. In these persons childhoods there were veterans of the US Civil War still alive.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@jasonacsalesltd I watched the Funeral of Albert Woolson The Last Civil War Soldier (1956). Something that occurred to me. Saigon fell Apr.1975. This means unless you are in your mid 50's you have no memory of this. People who were in Basic on 9-11 are retiring after putting in their 20. It's Rapidly Becoming A Long Time Ago. Or is it All That Long Ago?

[@bobsagget823]

nobody cares boomer

[@ToyKingWonder]

70+ years old, smooth as silk. So awesome. BTW, I didn't realize we had a big blue pyramid in Long Beach! Now I do!!!!

[@orticario6733]

Also exciting is the engines sound!

[@davidbottles3035]

I flew in the exact same seat on Fifi in Dallas about 5 years ago. What a thrill, can’t imagine being a young man flying an actual mission at the end of the war.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

High five 🙌

[@freddyblack8394]

My great uncle "Norman Break" was a bombardier on a Boeing B-29......miss you uncle Norman Break 🇺🇸

[@carlosballesteros3147]

What a pilot! beautiful landing indeed.

[@muskokamike127]

+Carlos Ballesteros exactly...I've been in passenger jets that were way harder than that.....

[@KC-vp7wn]

What a cool view, just loved it..... Thank you!

[@marks6072]

My dad was a B-29 navigator in the Korean Conflict 1950-53... He died Jan 2020.. Its amazing that that big old warhorse is still flying..

[@geosutube]

Thanks for the nice landing. Loved that there was no music to ruin this nice set-down. Spacious cockpit. I wonder how the people on the ground felt with this monster overhead. Any more videos?

[@ivangranger8494]

I think this is filmed just below the cockpit in the bombardiers seat, but yes the cockpit does look roomy.

[@bcask61]

This “monster” is tiny compared to what is overhead these days.

[@GTfour01]

@@bcask61 Not really. By measurement, it's sizeably comparable with a modern stealth bomber like the B2 Spirit.

[@gokmachine]

@@GTfour01 I thinks he means an Airbus 380

[@tb100]

Totally agree about the music. I want to hear the real thing.

[@MelbaOzzie]

On the one hand I love all these aircraft, and can't get enough of watching them. On the other, I remember what they were created for.

[@philbrown9764]

To finish what was started by someone else.

[@nojtom]

You’re welcome.

[@jamsax6915]

Thank god we had them that’s why we are free to day sum what.

[@brucekilby9957]

These beautiful planes were designed for one thing and they performed so well,just as the B17. The war would have gone on and on so the The bombs had to Dropped and these Ladies did the jobs.B29 a true Masterpiece in its time.🇺🇸🇯🇵

[@MelbaOzzie]

I think the responders here have totally missed the point of my comment. These aircraft are beautiful pieces of engineering and human ingenuity. They reflect the best man has to offer. I am a great fan of military aviation, and have spent my life watching aircraft develop with each iteration more impressive than the last. Despite the fact that I served in the infantry, I am usually in the front row at any air display. My comment was a humanist observation, without any political intent. I was observing the fact that these beautiful machines are amongst the best creations that man has to offer. They are designed, built and operated by the peak of humanity, but the tragedy is that their reason for existence is to kill other men of equal stature.

[@surfinghouston]

On the number yep on the line too. Love the sound of the engines on approach

[@MrEstiffany]

I was just a young kid in the '40s but remember it well. Was like an entirely different world back then, like a whole 'nother planet. And I'll tell, I like the cars on the streets better then than now. Far nicer designs. My father had a '37 dark blue Olds coupe, and my brother and I road on a platform in front of the rear window. One time he took us to the Air Force base to see the new fighters that just got in. A Jeep came roarin' at us with a pair of armed soldiers. We could have got shot.

[@93hopeless]

I love the sound of the landing gear touching!!!

[@jasonacsalesltd]

This month (Dec. 2012) will have 100K viewers on this video. I want to say thank you for sharing this flight with me. And to all who've left comments, thank you. It has been so amazing to watch all the positive feedback the world has shared.

[@MerrimanDevonshire]

At the time of this reply (Nov 2021), the view count is about 748K

[@TheFerruccio]

I just love the dramatic and classic sound meshing of radial engines and their corresponding props, especially the Duplex Cyclones.

[@DJxSGGxNeo]

I swear by this a few years ago I was looking for things to help me sleep, this is one of the best sounds that worked for me, not only did I have a great sleep, but I woke up feeling better than I had in years, something strange about sound and the effects it has on the body.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

Round sounds. 👍🏼

[@peacenluv2013]

This must be the same B-29 that passed over my house a couple years ago as they where showing it off all over the country it's a beast and heard it for about 10 minutes before and after it buzzed my house and it's really pretty good work on restoring the bomber!

[@9014jayvictor]

My Dad was a gunnery instructor for the B29 for no more than 4 years and many Daily Flights in those years !

[@jasonacsalesltd]

Did he ever mention the engines liked to catch fire on the early ones?

[@rod928s4]

My congratulations to you for,firstly, recording this wonderful event perfectly and being lucky enough to have the best seat in the house!! All the sounds were great! It must have been wild to be on the ground and see this awesome plane come in...

[@butcho7492]

My Dad was a radioman on B-29s during the Korean War. He would have enjoyed this. Thanks!!

[@justrobocon6538]

10yrs later... Still awesome!!

[@GunBroker100]

Brings back memories of flying with my dad during his career in the Air Force. He was a bomber pilot, enlisting in 1938, retiring in 1973. I got to go on maintenance/check out flights with him sometimes in 17's, 29's. They were marvelous planes. He'd put me in a jump set and off we'd go. Being a Lt. Colonel had it's advantages, I guess. I give anything to fly with him again and his ever present Co-Pilot, Steve, "Hap" Mitchell. Sitting in the bombardier's seat would have been sweet.

[@ukdaddydave6526]

You couldn't get a better view, fantastic video

[@jasonacsalesltd]

I’d like to ride the tail next time on the B-17. Who wants to ride along on that one?

[@ofpfury]

@@jasonacsalesltd I do! I do!

[@ukdaddydave6526]

Flying&Fords I'd love to ride along in any bomber plane, B17 that sounds like a plan I'd love to do

[@scottn7cy]

@@jasonacsalesltd Let's do it!

[@Driver0378]

I’m in for a ride in this baby and a B-17. 2 of my fav’s from this era. For fighters, mustang and spitfire too! :)

[@xxdfoster]

My god when that thing touches the ground...that makes me want to get my license so so badly . Well done pilot /crew

[@nealrcn]

Holy cow! from now on when I think professional I remember this landing

[@Handle4570]

Have watched this video about 10 times. Every time it shows up I'll watch it

[@azulmatadiablo74]

i was down there living in Anaheim when you flew in.. loved it.. and i wasn't worried about all four engines failing.. or even one. i was watching hisstory fly over.

[@Maxum97SeaDoo91]

Fantastic! I'm with all the others that say "What I wouldn't" give to fly in one of these....It would be the thrill of a lifetime !

[@jeffreywolcott5424]

About 400 dollars if you can find one coming to a town to you. I took my father in law for a ride 2 years ago, it was a dream of his. Beautiful

[@michaelhughes3302]

Mission accomplished. Thank you gentlemen.

[@charlesdkowalski9136]

My first 150 hours in 29s was in that position which was the bombardier location. Great memories. Thanks for showing this.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

What other aircraft did you serve on?

[@charlesdkowalski9136]

@@jasonacsalesltd C-47s, C-119s, SA-16 amphibs.

[@Mynameisjeffffff]

So this is the reason I had to speak up when talking to my grandfather. Awesome sound.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

Oh it was loud friend. Like 8,000 horsepower bolted to a coffee can loud.

[@roberthudson4822]

Outstanding!! Skid marks on the 3 and the 0!! ...and an Epic view from the Nav Seat!! Wish it was me..

[@daveth121864]

Great video! Thanks for posting. We wqtched FiFi fly at Oshkosh 2011. What a treat! Fly safe.

[@asthalis]

Very nice and soft landing... and great view from the nose of the beast !

[@johnbockelie3899]

My 1st ride in a B.29 Superfortress !!!!!. Fabulous!!.

[@getsmarter5412]

WOW!!! Absolutely gorgeous!

[@Cool-Lake]

Gorgeous landing. A firm hand on a heroic aircraft. Thanks for posting.

[@rustyclam238]

I hope you realize how cool you are and lucky to be able to fly such a warbird! You’re the man!

[@TheOneTrueKaliban]

Well, if they can't appreciate seeing a piece of history like this, they're people I'd be perfectly happy to piss off!

[@mrchew1982]

The air show at Gillespie Field, El Cajon CA was exactly this in 2013, a trip back to a gentler time! All prop aircraft with a small show that wasn't afraid to let you walk up close to the airplanes and check them out. My son loved it!

[@ronray4636]

She flew right over our old home, on Fanwood Ave, just behind the Minnie Gant Elementary School. I always did want to see what our neighborhood looked like from the air! Also saw my old junior high school, Hill Junior High, near the San Gabriel River, on the approach before turning on final. GREAT VIDEO!!! And they did land "on the numbers!"

[@HeliFlightRCU]

Nice approach, thanks for the ride!

[@benvindofelipe]

perfect approximation and therefore a beautiful landing, my congratulations.

[@charliecollard6433]

Superb landing, lovely sound

[@audriahYemma]

I can only imaging how 100+ of these planes looked flying over head back in the day.

[@stevehaller6332]

Could you imagine the noise from the 400 engines if this is just one plane?

[@mysticwine]

They didn't see much action as they came online near the war's end. Were replaced by B52s.

[@obliviousfafnir01]

@@mysticwine B-17's on the other hand...

[@mysticwine]

@@obliviousfafnir01 The great workhorse of the war!

[@Sexysadie_]

Well on march 9th 1945, they bomb the shit out of tokyo with 300plus b29s so just think about that.. the roaring of the engines. How terrifying that would be if youre on tokyo that time and not just a single terror bombing attack, wave after wave of b29s bombed tokyo.

[@LJSJIUJITSU]

Man you're a lucky man!!!!!! I'm a United States history teacher so that pretty much says how I feel about historical aircraft such as this beauty.

[@stevek548]

Next best thing to riding aboard! Thanks for sharing.

[@emiralamsyah9668]

Nice videos. An old world war 2 bomber, flown by a skilled pilot. Landing smoothly. Great and respect. Again, this video is great. Thank you 👍👍

[@johncolinmclay2]

Superb , main gear on the numbers , he held off on the flair , great job ..

[@dcatransit]

That was 100% Pure Awesome. Thank you for sharing that!

[@Dizinii]

Awesome power of the b29! Thanks for posting. What a trip. I wish the Audio was better.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

No stunt, the fellow Daryl in the show is a very capable pilot with a flying resume few can compare with. The CAF does have a program to mentor future pilots. The most recent graduate is country music performer Aaron Tippin.

[@keithlincoln1309]

How cool is that!! I watch this from my couch! Thank you!!!

[@jasonacsalesltd]

Glad you like it!

[@uploadJ]

Wow ... thanks guys! This is why KZbin exists, to give the world that near first-person view of landing an old war bird like the B-29 ... Thanks again! .

[@Pureignition58]

Graphics and Audio on HD video games have gotten so good that I seriously could not tell this was real before 1:55 the freeway and cars gave it away.

[@silkyjones2626]

"On the numbers" is a lost art. Everyone wants to screech the tires.

[@reubenmorris487]

Had a really long displaced threshold to glide over while in ground effect.

[@tireman4567]

beautiful piece of history !!

[@BenRush]

Holy cow. Great landing.

[@markshoemaker65]

Always impressive to see these old birds...outstanding.

[@wadesaleeby2172]

Nice work Captain!

[@bobmillerick300]

Thanks for a great video and share. Made even more enjoyable with no BS narrative and nonsense music. Thumbs up!

[@Lockbar]

Your B-29 take off and landing vids are just super. Really feels like you are there.

[@ronray4636]

Hey, this plane flew right over my house in Long Beach, just past the blue pyramid at Cal State LB! Wow! We never get this view flying on Jet Blue. The airlines should put a camera in the nose and show the passengers what it's like to take off and land from the pilot's perspective. Thanks for making this wonderful clip! Written in Texas on 2/5/13

[@jeffallen3598]

Wow!! What a view that is.. Must have been one hell of a ride

[@tonnywildweasel8138]

Fantastic plane, fantastic view. Thanks for sharing, and greets from the Netherlands!

[@nemo227]

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

[@elikinder1506]

You lucky guys. Some have all the fun plus one hell of a pilot!

[@str8nupflyrite]

Good god that was a perfect landing!!

[@coolhacker011]

Thanks for sharing, I always wondered what it was like to ride in one. Next best thing to actually riding in it. Add other camera angles, like the rear gunner or bottom turret. :) Not sure why anyone would put a thumbs down? It is not like they could reproduce this shot!!

[@Dustin_Curley]

coolhacker011 Maybe the thumbs down are Japanese?

[@GamePlayWithNolan]

p27522 lol

[@brucejeanduc841]

p27522 probably old white guy.

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

That was beautiful! Great landing boys!👌😎👍

[@gregoryjohnson6753]

I really enjoyed the information about the airplane's history.

[@92Runningwolf]

Good pilot! Good landing!

[@walterbriggs272]

Beautiful touchdown

[@roystone9682]

Thank you i realy enjoyed the fly/landing of A B-29 Superfortress.

[@tomwhelan4561]

Thankyou! I can cross that off my bucket list!

[@ljohnson5978]

Thanks for the ride along!

[@okrajoe]

Beautiful landing - thanks for posting.

[@SloaneLasers]

Beautiful. What an awesome upload, thank you.

[@MrSpikebender]

Can you imagine the sound a full complement of these planes overhead!!

[@ramonlaguer9971]

Nice view from those windows!👍👌✌

[@MHunt1000]

You know this plane is probably better serviced and looked after than many commercial airliners that fly over those same houses every day yet they don't fall out of the sky.

[@Bbendfender]

Are the old hats of the CAF still around? Lefty Gardner, Gerald ?, Lloyd Nolan? I used to be in the CAF several years ago. I saw some awesome flying.

[@Stratboy999]

Great piece of footage. I really enjoyed it, thanks a lot for posting.

[@mmichaeldonavon]

I would have bet money that the "touch down" would have been before reaching the runway threshold - shows you what I know! Nice video; loved those radials, thanks

[@swisseagle7079]

Nice touch ! Love that bird !

[@larrysmith1568]

Amazing how quiet it is. Beautiful.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

Actually very loud. Camera microphone doesn’t pick that up. 8,000+ horsepower bolted to aluminum.

[@jeffreyclark1120]

Thanks for this great video. Reminds me of a similar scene in "The Best Years of Our Lives" directed by William Wyler in 1946. Worth a see also.

[@TEHSTONEDPUMPKIN]

I've been in both the B29's ("FiFi, and "Doc"). Fantastic experiences!

[@cakakic1988]

Wow, right on the numbers.

[@jaybarua7095]

The pilots who flew these in ww2 were kids.17-25 yrs old. Salute.

[@ofpfury]

Seeing all the shaking after touchdown, maybe I'm too connected to the earth - more air time! Very nice video :)

[@jasonacsalesltd]

@doginstine Land And Hold Short Operations, at Long Beach Airport each runway crosses another. So to prevent incursions, it is a "land and yeild to the other airplane" type of proceedure.

[@Hallettjs7957]

That must have been amazing to see from the ground!

[@sstroh08]

i can just imagine the shit seen thru that big window, imagine shells of flak exploding a few feet outside of it while you are trying to look down that bombsight, those guys were extremely brave!

[@xonox_868]

lol damn that restaurant sure gets a hell of a view of any plane landing

[@drewrubtheMando]

Man that was an awesome view.

[@jasonacsalesltd]

Yes it was!

[@davidredmond1761]

Wow great ride thanks on de numbers